History of the Lilliput Seventh-day Adventist Church

Experience has demonstrated that great things commenced as a small unit, but with commitment, tenacity, and nurture, growth and development will most definitely follow. It was a simple conversation between Brother George Heavens and one Miss Catherine Morrison that the idea of a place of worship became a reality. Brother Heavens who at the time a member of the Paradise Cresent SDA Church, now Norwood SDA, was on his journey back home from Falmouth when he assisted Miss Morrison with a ride. A conversation developed, and it was during that conversation while travelling, that she informed Heavens of some Seventh-day Adventists who were living in the district of Lilliput. This information ignited a flame in him and he would not dare to let this flame go out.

The following Sunday afternoon Brother Heavens went in search of the Seventh-day Adventists whom he was told were living in the area. On reaching their home he was informed by a family member that they were not home. Brother Heavens had great plans and he was determined to meet them. Therefore he journeyed to Lilliput the following week and finally met with the family. After a successful meeting, and permission from Mr. Lawrence Lee, Sister Thelma Lee’s husband, a Sunday School was started at their home in 1974. The foundation members were Sister Thelma Lee, Sister Leslie, Brother Heavens and Brother Renford McIntosh.

Sunday afternoon worship started with the smaller children gathered on the verandah with Sister Horde and Sister Lesley, the older ones were in the kitchen with Brother McIntosh, and the adults were also in the kitchen in a corner with Brother Heavens. The services were inspiring and soon other families such as the Reids, the Simpsons, and the Morrisions, soon join the small company.

The church continued its steady growth and Brother Heavens saw the need to start a Sabbath School since the membership started to grow. As a result of this bright prospect, a whole day service started on Sabbaths. Brother Baker and his family from Barrett Town would often come down to assist in conducting Sabbath School. As the small company grew, Mr. Lawrence Lee made up a little place on the lower level of his home where the Sabbaths’ worship could be conducted; the church maintained full momentum as it flourished. These are the words of Sister Pansy Reid as she remembers the experience “We have our first thirteen Sabbath which was celebrated and participated by all. Our first thirteen Sabbath song was ‘We should be like garden bright and sweet with flowers bless with heaven sunshine cheer by gentle showers’. I can still remember that thirteen Sabbath and the song still have its meaning for me because we grow from a little garden to a very large one.”

As the impetus continued, God’s divine blessings and leading were evident in the overflowing of the worshippers in the small structure, and the need for a larger space was evident. More and more persons started to join the worship programme. It was unmistakable that these individuals were enjoying God’s goodness and mercies towards them. The house could not contain the number of individuals who started to worship. Therefore the need was seen to start a church. Brother Heavens and hid team along with Mr. Lawrence Lee asked one Mr. Francis for a piece of land that is by the main road, this is where the first church was erected. The strong volunteers who dug the foundation were Luchious Lee who is now a member, Shine and Jarol who are now deceased.

A very humble structure of zinc with wooden seats was built and the congregation moved to the roadside in 1975. The new church became the daughter of Montego Bay SDA church, and they took over the affairs of the congregation. From there she continued to spread her branched and kept growing out of that small garden, which was started by one faithful servant of God Brother George Heavens. Sister Dasil Simpson was the first individual to be baptized in the newly built sanctuary. The first deacon and deaconess were Brother Kenneth Thomas and Sister Hyacinth Thomas, affectionately called Senty.

The leading man of God at this time was Pastor Barrows. In 1985 Pastor Oliphant conducted a crusade in which 25 persons were baptized, in that same year the church was organized. At the organisation of the church there were 400 members inclusive of the 25 that were baptized during the crusade. The church quickly upgraded as membership grew. The zinc structure was removed and replaced by board. In 1988 when Mr. Hurricane Gilbert came with strong mighty winds he left the board structure of the Lilliput SDA church flat on the ground. Worship was not affected because a structure was quickly erected with canvas and other materials that were available. It was not as convenient as before since it was resurrected just enough for worship. Worship however, continued as the brethren were having a great time in the Lord.

Evangelistic efforts were always our mantra, and so they were conducted over the years with Brother Willocks, Brother Palmer, and Pastor Blake. Under the leadership of Pastor Parchment we had started a permanent structure by the roadside, the foundations were laid, and the walls of our new church were going up; so we were very disappointed by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), who told us that we cannot remain there as the land was needed for road development. They however, directed us to to consider our present site. Pastor Bygrave later conducted a crusade at the eact spot where the current church is located. After the crusade, the church returned to the church by the roadside, but they were given 90 days to leave that location. This was sad at the moment but it led to something great.

The Board met and a team was delegated to explore that option. We did not all together like the site seeing that amenities such as electricity were unavailable. After much discussion under divine guidance, the board decided that we will take the offer. The U.D.C. was pushing us to expedite the transition, but we needed shelter to secure the things used for worship, and also to shelter the brethren. On the advice of the board, the decision was taken to build the children’s department, a vestry, and toilet facilities. Brother Raymond Bernard was asked to continue leading out in the building program and facilitate the construction of the new structure.

He not accepted the task, but promised that the new site will be ready to be occupied for worship within ninety days. By then the Pastoral leadership was changed and Pastor Conrad Duncan was the new Pastor for the congregation. After having the building plans drawn, construction of the children’s department commenced. The members worked tirelessly day and night. They gave their money and their time, at the end of ninety days in 1993, the church moved to this new location. We were blessed, God provided Mrs. Ester Jones (now deceased) to assist with light and other resources in many ways.

 We worshipped there for some time, and growth continued, the first evangelistic crusade kept in the building was a youth crusade conducted by Brother Bernard, ten persons were baptized. After we started the construction of the main sanctuary, a crusade was also conducted in it by Brother R. Alcock. We used bamboo and canvas as roofing. After the crusade we did not return to worship in the children’s department. We had some good times under our canvas cathedral. As time progresses, the walls were raised up and the members continued to worship without window and doors. One of our many cherished memories was when it rained; we had to press together under a few umbrellas and the little areas of the roof that were not leaking. Our feet, shoes, and pants, would turn white as the raindrops would beat that marl that was used for flooring on us. We always welcomed the showers however, because the area was always dry and dusty.

Today Lilliput SDA is pleased to have over seven hundred members who are enjoying an atmosphere of spiritual goodness, as well as physical comfort of cushioned benches tiled floors and beautiful painted walls with ceiling fans and beautiful windows. God is truly amazing as this could be no other work but the work of the Lord. The Church grew from infancy to a mature woman, and was impregnated with the thought of having children. She became pregnant during the leadership of Pastor Lester Thomas, but experienced an accident which resulted in a miscarriage.

She continued to cherish the thought was the desire to have children grew stronger. In March and April of Two Thousand and Eleven a crusade was conducted in the Wagon Wheel area by Pastor Laundale Monroe and a dedicated team of workers under the theme of workers “The Power of Love”, saw eighty two persons gave their hearts to God. From that program Lilliput acquired a lovely daughter whom she named Power of Love. She is now housed at Barrett Hall in what was a four bedroom dwelling owned by sister and brother Exford Griffiths. The building has now been reconfigured creating space for worship.

On the Twelve of November, Two Thousand Eleven the congregation was organised into a company. Over One Hundred persons met there for Sabbath Worship, we presently conduct Bible study on Sunday nights and mid-week prayer meeting each week. Elder Desmond Dawkins and a small team were appointment to lead out in that Company. In February Two Thousand and Twelve president of West Jamaica Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Astor Bowers held two weeks of revival meetings at the Power of Love, where fifteen persons gave their lives to the Lord.

The journey could not function without our dedicated and able leaders, throughout the years the church was blessed with various pastors; they are, Pastors Burrows, Oliphant, Reid, Parchment, Duncan, and Bygrave. The interns were Pastors Brevitt, and Miller at the bottom church. At the present location they are, Pastors Bygrave, Crew, Thomas, Williams, Sewell, Miller, Munroe, and Taylor. The interns are, Pastors Munroe, McCloud, Moody, Johnson, and Sharp. Various leaders have also made their contribution in this our journey of the congregation they are, Brother George Heavens, Brother Anthony Robinson, Brother Collin Wright, Brother Raymond Bernard, and Brother Homea Spence.

The church has grown and continues to grow under God’s guidance. To God be the glory, today’s experience is experience is evidence of His continued divine leading and mercies.